For Immediate Release
For more information, contact:
Larry Cafiero, HeliOS Solutions West
831-335-7303 / 831-438-1401
TOWN TO BE FREED FROM DIGITAL CHAINS
IN LINDEPENDENCE 2008 EVENT IN JULY
FELTON - Take a town with a reputation for fierce independence and add the introduction to Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) to current Microsoft and Apple users, and what do you get?
Linux plus independence, which equals “Lindependence”
Lindependence 2008, a project initiated by HeliOS Solutions West of Felton, introduces the concept of FOSS to the people of Felton through meetings and “installfests” — gatherings where people can find out more about FOSS and install software under the guidance of experienced technicians — throughout July, after which those who wish to participate in the project will be asked to go “Microsoft-free” for a week at the end of July.
“If you read the End User License Agreement to any of the software that comes with your computer - especially that of any Microsoft product — you’ll find that you don’t own what’s running on your computer,” said Larry Cafiero of HeliOS Solutions West. “With Free/Open Source Software, you own the software and can do with it whatever you wish. For example, if you have the ability to amend it to your personal needs, you can. If you want to give a copy to your neighbor, you can. It’s about the freedom to run whatever you want on your computer without restriction.”
Ken Starks, founder of HeliOS Solutions in Austin, Texas, mirrored Cafiero’s thoughts.
“The only reason people stay with Microsoft Windows and proprietary software is because they don’t know they have a choice,” Starks said. “We planned Lindependence 2008 to let people know the do have a choice. I can show you hundreds of people who have made the switch seamlessly and that’s not including the businesses that have discovered the Linux Operating System. Once people see the choice, I believe the choice will be clear. Felton will help tell the story.”
The people of Felton are invited to use one of a variety of distributions, or “distros,” of Linux, also called GNU/Linux — Linux is the operating system kernel developed in 1991 by Linus Torvalds matched with tools developed by GNU (GNU’s Not Unix) completing the operating system. In addition, FOSS programs like Crossover Office, made by Codeweavers, and OpenOffice, a Microsoft Office alternative created by Sun and IBM, will be introduced and available to the public.
Among the distros participating in Lindependence 2008 are (alphabetically): AntiX, Fedora, Mandriva, Ubuntu and Wolvix.
Going beyond the advantages that FOSS provides in price — programs are available for free — there is also a security element that enhances its appeal: GNU/Linux is far less prone to viruses and other digital security breaches.
“With the chronic problems from which Microsoft Windows has suffered - and the recent debacle where Windows Vista can’t run right on computers that should be able to run it - I think people are seeking alternatives for their computing needs,” Cafiero said. “And the fact of the matter is that both GNU/Linux and FOSS provide those alternatives.”
Meeting/Installfest dates and sites are currently being finalized and will be announced through the media and direct mail to Felton residents, according to Cafiero.
Established last September, HeliOS Solutions West provides software testing, networking services and FOSS conversion services for home and office environments in the San Lorenzo Valley.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WEB:
HeliOS Solutions: http://www.fixedbylinux.com (click on the Lindependence button)
Distros:
Fedora: http://www.fedoraproject.org
Mandriva: http://www.mandriva.com
Ubuntu: http://www.ubuntu.com
AntiX: http://antix.mepis.com
Wolvix: http://www.wolvix.org
FOSS programs:
OpenOffice: http://www.openoffice.org
Crossover Office: http://www.codeweavers.com
For more information, contact:
Larry Cafiero, HeliOS Solutions West
831-335-7303 / 831-438-1401
TOWN TO BE FREED FROM DIGITAL CHAINS
IN LINDEPENDENCE 2008 EVENT IN JULY
FELTON - Take a town with a reputation for fierce independence and add the introduction to Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) to current Microsoft and Apple users, and what do you get?
Linux plus independence, which equals “Lindependence”
Lindependence 2008, a project initiated by HeliOS Solutions West of Felton, introduces the concept of FOSS to the people of Felton through meetings and “installfests” — gatherings where people can find out more about FOSS and install software under the guidance of experienced technicians — throughout July, after which those who wish to participate in the project will be asked to go “Microsoft-free” for a week at the end of July.
“If you read the End User License Agreement to any of the software that comes with your computer - especially that of any Microsoft product — you’ll find that you don’t own what’s running on your computer,” said Larry Cafiero of HeliOS Solutions West. “With Free/Open Source Software, you own the software and can do with it whatever you wish. For example, if you have the ability to amend it to your personal needs, you can. If you want to give a copy to your neighbor, you can. It’s about the freedom to run whatever you want on your computer without restriction.”
Ken Starks, founder of HeliOS Solutions in Austin, Texas, mirrored Cafiero’s thoughts.
“The only reason people stay with Microsoft Windows and proprietary software is because they don’t know they have a choice,” Starks said. “We planned Lindependence 2008 to let people know the do have a choice. I can show you hundreds of people who have made the switch seamlessly and that’s not including the businesses that have discovered the Linux Operating System. Once people see the choice, I believe the choice will be clear. Felton will help tell the story.”
The people of Felton are invited to use one of a variety of distributions, or “distros,” of Linux, also called GNU/Linux — Linux is the operating system kernel developed in 1991 by Linus Torvalds matched with tools developed by GNU (GNU’s Not Unix) completing the operating system. In addition, FOSS programs like Crossover Office, made by Codeweavers, and OpenOffice, a Microsoft Office alternative created by Sun and IBM, will be introduced and available to the public.
Among the distros participating in Lindependence 2008 are (alphabetically): AntiX, Fedora, Mandriva, Ubuntu and Wolvix.
Going beyond the advantages that FOSS provides in price — programs are available for free — there is also a security element that enhances its appeal: GNU/Linux is far less prone to viruses and other digital security breaches.
“With the chronic problems from which Microsoft Windows has suffered - and the recent debacle where Windows Vista can’t run right on computers that should be able to run it - I think people are seeking alternatives for their computing needs,” Cafiero said. “And the fact of the matter is that both GNU/Linux and FOSS provide those alternatives.”
Meeting/Installfest dates and sites are currently being finalized and will be announced through the media and direct mail to Felton residents, according to Cafiero.
Established last September, HeliOS Solutions West provides software testing, networking services and FOSS conversion services for home and office environments in the San Lorenzo Valley.
-30-
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WEB:
HeliOS Solutions: http://www.fixedbylinux.com (click on the Lindependence button)
Distros:
Fedora: http://www.fedoraproject.org
Mandriva: http://www.mandriva.com
Ubuntu: http://www.ubuntu.com
AntiX: http://antix.mepis.com
Wolvix: http://www.wolvix.org
FOSS programs:
OpenOffice: http://www.openoffice.org
Crossover Office: http://www.codeweavers.com